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By Collins Yakubu-Hammer Dr Emmanuel Egejurum, Speaker of the AU Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly said Nigeria should set the pace in addressing mental health and other development frameworks for other African countries. Egejurum made the call at the Assembly’s Strategic Meeting of the Principal Officers and Heads of Various Committees on Thursday in Abuja. According to him, the Assembly is set to participate in the celebration of World Mental Health Day in October. “Nigeria has this burden of carrying Afrtica. Nigeria is a pace setter, we have a way of shouldering Africa. Nigeria need to continue to set the pace for other Afrcian countries. “Agenda 2063 started in 2013 with a 50 years projection of the Africa of our dreams; Africa without borders that provide equal op...

By Jacinta Nwachukwu The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has stressed the need for the government to adequately fund the country’s educational system for effective service delivery. The union trained about 100 state union chairmen and secretaries in capacity building to prepare and equip them to advance the implementation of the global response project themed “Go Public! Fund Education” at different levels. Speaking at the training workshop on Thursday in Abuja, the National President of NUT, Comrade Audu Amba, said the government should invest in education and the teaching profession. Amba noted that teachers’ wellbeing was central to the realisation of the right to quality education for all. He also highlighted the shortage of teachers in public primary schools and the pr...

While some Nigerians, including the founder of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore have been placed on watchlist by the Department of State Services (DSS), members of late Nigeria's military head of State, General Sanni Abacha have been removed from the earlier Watchlist of the agency. The DSS in a memo seen by our correspondent was signed by Adeola D. Alli instructed operatives to give free passage to members of Abacha family. The Abacha family members include: FATIMA (GUMSU) SANI ABACHA, MAHMOUD SANI ABACHA, MUSTAPHA SANI ABACHA, SADIQ SANI ABACHA and ZAINAB SANI ABACHA. Late General Sanni Abacha would be recalled was Nigeria's head of state who ruled the country with an iron-fist from 1993 following a palace coup d'état until his sudden death in 1998. General Sanni Abacha, his ...

The House of Representatives has vowed to take necessary steps to address the challenge arising from the non-implementation of presidential directives to remove universities and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System. On July 12, the Federal Executive Council directed that the nation’s university system be expeditiously removed from the IPPIS platform. The announcement followed the federal government’s prior approval of the initiative. The new directive reportedly formed part of resolutions reached at the council meeting conducted by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

There is growing concern over shortage of foodstuff and other commodities in Maiduguri, Borno State, as thousands of residents struggle for survival, after ravaging floods. Floods submerged major markets including grain, fruit and vegetable depots in the town, while many shopping complexes and plazas remain closed. The development had led to shortage of food items making the prices of the few available ones exorbitant. “It is difficult to find foodstuffs now as all major markets are submerged. I can’t operate my restaurant in-spite of pressure from customers, because the foodstuff I stocked has been exhausted,” Hajara Mohammed said. Other food vendors who attended to customers the previous day, including Amina Isa, Rhoda Abdullahi and Jummai Mohammed said their stocks had also...

The police command in Lagos State has said a 55-year old woman, identified as Ifeoma, slumped and died during a church testimony session. The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated this on Wednesday in Lagos. He said that the incident happened at 8.48 a.m. on Sunday at a church service in Ejigbo area of Lagos State. Mr Hundeyin said that the zonal accountant of the church reported the incident. He said, “The accountant reported that during testimony hour in the church, while the service was on, Ifeoma came out singing songs to give her testimony when she suddenly slumped. She was quickly taken to a nearby hospital but was referred to a hospital in Isolo where she was confirmed dead.’’ The police spokesperson added that based on the report, detectives were deta...

A computer instructor, Samson Abayomi has been arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory for allegedly attempting to kill his father with axe and knife. The police charged Abayomi, who resides on Jeremiah Oseni road, Gwagwalada,Abuja with criminal intimidation and mischief. The Prosecution Counsel, Dabo Yakubu, told the court that on August 2, the defendant allegedly entered his father, Bello Samson’s apartment, with an axe and a kitchen knife to kill him. Mr Yakubu said that Samson was rescued by a neighbour and in the process, the defendant allegedly destroyed his father’s vehicle windshield valued at N50,000. He said that during the police investigation the defendant allegedly confessed to having used a stick to commit the act. He cla...

The Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, has arrested no fewer than 21 suspects for alleged kidnapping, armed robbery and other offences. Adetunji Adeleye, state commander of Amotekun corps, disclosed on Tuesday in Akure that the suspects were arrested within a few weeks. He said 19 suspects were arrested for law and order offences, while two suspects were arrested for kidnapping. “In spite of the means to checkmate these criminals, they are also moving forward with their activities, but we got them through receipt of credible information from the public,” Mr Adeleye said. The Amotekun boss frowned at people who enjoyed buying cheap second-hand items and urged them to desist as they would be regarded as accomplices. He also called on the public to...

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday expressed the sympathy of President Bola Tinubu's administration to all the victims of flood disasters nationwide. Shettima spoke at the 17th Annual Banking and Finance Conference (CIBN) with the theme," Accelerated Economic Growth and Development: the state of play and the way forward," in Abuja. " I want to use this forum to commiserate with the people of our great nation over the flood disasters we are recording all across the length and breath of this nation " After this meeting with the concert of the President I will rush to Maiduguri, the whole city has been overtaken by flood. " It is not peculiar to one part of the country. We are facing these challenges right from Bayelsa to Sokoto. " Be rest assured that the President has...

The Honourable Minister of Defence, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has extended his heartfelt sympathy to the Executive Governor of Borno State, His Excellency Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, and the people of Borno State, following the devastating floods that have engulfed parts of Maiduguri, the state capital. The floods have caused significant damage to properties and displaced many residents, adding to the challenges already faced by the state. My heartfelt sympathy goes to the people and government of Borno State at this trying period that flood has wrecked havoc in the state caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam. "I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate flooding in Maiduguri, which has displaced families and caused untold hardship to the people of...

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, has assured victims of the devastated flood of proper care until the water receded and people returned to their houses. Zulum gave the assurance when he visited where victims of Monday’s devastating flood in Maiduguri were camped. According to a statement by the Press Unit of Borno State Government House, Zulum said: “I am disturbed by the calamity that befell us on Monday, resulting from the increased volume. We are doing everything possible to provide relief to our people. “We will provide all the necessary relief support to you, and we will ensure you return to your houses as soon as the situation improves for the best.” The statement said in the last couple of days, many states in the northeast have experienced flood disasters this year...

Hon. Dr. Wilson Ekwerekwu, Director-General of the Coalition of Igbo Youth Leaders in South-East, eulogizes Hon. Gift Johnbull, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement South South, on her birthday, acknowledging her philanthropic efforts, social advocacy, and dedication to community development. In his congratulatory communique made available to the Media, he described her as a foremost philanthropist and an unrepentant social advocate whose penchant for diligence and vast contributions to community development are worth emulating. He said birthdays happen every year, yours every 11th September, but special persons like you, who sacrifice so much to serve humanity, become our reference point. Dr. Ekwerekwu, who doubles as the Anambra State Coordinator fo...

PolicyThe House of Representatives on Tuesday said that it would develop an all -inclusive policy document that would enhance safe secured and quality electricity delivery in the country. Rep.Sulaiman Gumi, Chairman House of Representative Committee on Safety, Standard and Regulations said this in Abuja while briefing newsmen. Gumi said that the document would strengthen the oversight and investigative responsibility of the committee. He said that the committee identified the power sector as an important one whose safety standards and regulatory policies should be observed for effective legislative actions. According to him, the Federal Government has made commitments towards enhancing safety standards in the electricity sector by ascertaining laws, regulations and establishin...

A pregnant woman has been trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants on Indonesia’s Sumatra island. The police disclosed this on Tuesday. The woman, identified as Karsini, was trying to protect her family’s rubber plantation from the elephants in Muara Lakitan district in South Sumatra when they charged at her on Sunday, local police chief Muhammad Karim said. “The victim tried to scare away the herd by banging on two jerry cans to create loud noise, but instead of retreating, the elephants charged at her, resulting in her death,” Mr Karim said. The incident occurred in a region known for its large population of wild elephants, which frequently roam in herds of up to 100 animals. Local authorities said that encounters between humans and elephants were becoming increasing...

The House of Representatives has ordered the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board to remit N3.602 billion to the federal government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund. Bamidele Salam, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, gave the order during an investigative hearing in Abuja, saying the Fiscal Responsibility Commission demanded the remittance. Mr Salam said the remittance was not subject to personal interpretation. He said it was a matter of law or regulation and had nothing to do with the difference between the 25 per cent and 50 per cent as argued by JAMB. The committee unanimously ordered that JAMB should send the fund to FRC and provide evidence of the remittance within 30 days. The FRC had dragged JAMB before the committee over an unremitted operating surplus. B...

The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says that convicted corrupt Nigerians should not get state pardons.Mr Fagbemi said this at a roundtable meeting organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for attorneys general on Monday in Abuja. In a statement by his spokesman Kamarudeen Ogundele, Mr Fagbemi solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the attorneys general, in the fight against corruption. “I will suggest in our next constitution review exercise that we expunge those found guilty of corruption from benefiting from powers of ‘Prerogative of Mercy’ to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said. He advised them to eschew nepotism, political witch-hunting, rivalry, and bigotry in the...

The Association of Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations of Nigeria (ALDAPCON) has partnered with the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) to advance data privacy and protection within Nigerian universities.  This was contained in a press statement issued to newsmen signed by the Director, Publicity and Advocacy ALDAPCON, Mr. Ayodeji Rex Abitogun. The statement said that, "This landmark agreement, signed on September 5, 2024, marks a significant step towards safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations across higher education institutions in Nigeria. "The partnership addresses the growing need for robust data privacy practices in the academic sector. As universities increasingly re...

Security operatives suspected to be personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Benson Upah, spokesperson of the NLC, told journalists that Ajaero was arrested on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja as he was about to board a flight to the UK. “The assault on Nigerian workers continues. President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was arrested and abducted by men of the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja this morning on his way to attend an official engagement of TUC United Kingdom and he is now detained at the office of the NSA,” the NLC said in a statement. “This intimidation and assault must stop!!!”